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The Ultimate Guide to Produce Valuable Content and Fight Depression!

The Creative Individual's Guide to Create Great Content and Maintain Mental Health

By Silena Le BeauPublished 6 years ago 7 min read
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Why is it that the most influential, sought-after influencers are burning out?

This article is not just about YouTubers, but people in general. Everyone faces depression at some point in their life, which mainly stems from being attached to an expected outcome or attachment to something from the past.

Successful creators in general build hefty communities, and a big part of that, especially on the internet, where those suffering from social anxiety or depression can come together in a comfortable setting, is creating an open, welcoming space for those going through hard times, which is very relatable for our generation.

But what about their own mental health?

It becomes an issue when the same mindful care isn’t being given to their own struggles, and their own mental health.

What is V.I.C.E. ?

  • Validation
  • Isolation
  • Connectedness
  • Empathic

V.I.C.E. is the sole reason creative individuals around the world are struggling to produce content.

Validation

Social media has created a new route for millennial peer pressure that has sprouted like weeds in our generation.

It's as if we have become a generation thirsty for internet validation overnight. Our behavior is clearly evident and it is pretty obvious by now.

There are some who feel the need to constantly put on a show for their followers in an anticipatory attempt for some form of approval.

We have become obsessed with thinking that everything we post on social media needs to be validated in some way.

On any given day, you post your lunch location and it’s been five minutes since you posted a photo of your lunch on Instagram . Phone in hand as you constantly check to see if anyone has acknowledged it.

There’s only one problem. No one has liked the photo in the last 10 minutes. You have already tried numerous times to refresh your feed.

Mild anxiety starts kicking in. Is it possible that no one is online? Why haven’t they liked my beautiful lunch photo? Is it possible that no one is online?

Can my followers even see my photo? Could it be Instagram’s messed up algorithm?

When we don’t receive the expected timely response, we tumble into a delusion thinking that this means we have haters. Our generation loves to spew the word “hater”. And it's so crazy we boast about having haters for something that shouldn't even be an issue.

Isolation

Let's face it, YouTubers work alone 90-95 percent of the time, talking to a screen or doing voiceovers.

Normally, you work from home, in a bedroom or an office. There aren’t really any coworkers involved.

There is no one but you, essentially, unless you have your own team and a manager, camera crew, photographers etc. or if you created a brand that you solely run.

Uploading stuff on the internet can get lonely. You don’t have schedules or assignments to give your work-life structure. There’s no boss at the end of the day to tell you give you feedback, or to push you in a better direction.

These missing factors make creators susceptible to periods of sadness, anxiety, or depression, either over the content of their work, the course of their career, or even something that's totally unrelated.

Social isolation, can amplify a person's feelings of low self-worth, loneliness, shame, depression, and other mental health related issues. Isolation itself is not a diagnosis, but it is rather a symptom of depression, agoraphobia or social anxiety.

Connectedness to Social Media

Social media is a catalyst for social anxiety. YouTubers are constantly staying connected through social outlets and "on" whatever platform is the next booming craze or fad.

Posting on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and so on and so on. When it's realized that it's becoming to much, they're already drained by then.

Most often than not they eventually go on a hike for some much needed time off sending their subscribers in a frenzy. They start to receive messages everyday from their subbies asking questions like, "where are you, are you okay, we miss you, hope you're doing, good take your time," etc. And if they are diehard stans, they will even go to great lengths and DM someone that they saw in the YouTuber's video just to get an answer.

Empathic

Everyone is born empathic (having empathy). There's a word for it; it has commonly be known as being an empath since the 1960s when it appeared on Star Trek as well as other famous cartoon shows in the same era!

Being born an empath makes one highly sensitive to outside energy, especially negative energy, since it has the ability to affect your overall well being and drain your energy if you are not able to shield from the negativity.

It is imperative to evaluate your circle. Remember, everyone doesn't always have your best interest at heart.

Any toxic energy you associate with during your everyday life, whether in person, on the phone, or on social media can give similar effects and have an influence on your mental health because of your naturally sensitive nature.

Ten minutes of meditation daily is best to reverse what you take on as it helps to center your mind and bring you inner peace. You can find out more in the article below.

The Effects of Social Acceptance

This is probably one of the more problematic signs of a social media addiction, because it can have a real effect on our self-esteem and confidence if a picture doesn’t perform as well as we would like it to.

Waiting to see how many likes you can garner can cause real anxieties, and there are several mental issues that can come from not receiving the gratification you desire.

If this sounds like you, then you should think about taking some time away from social media and finding pursuits that give you confidence and validation in other ways, not reliant on anyone else.

You delete pictures without adequate likes.

Another symptom of the anxieties that a lack of likes can cause, if you delete photos that don’t perform well enough, it is a symptom of the same issue.

Those who are really into their social media pages will delete a picture without enough likes because it looks bad on their profile, or even worse because they don’t think it’s good enough to be up there.

Your social media page belongs to you, and it shouldn’t matter what others think of it. It’s about what you choose to share, not what others choose to like.

Social media addiction is a real issue, and it can cause real life harm. There have been several investigations into social media and the addictive behaviours that it can cause users to present. If you feel that you have an issue with social media then take some time to step back and find other things in your life that are more important.

A Supportive Community

We need recognize the need or cry out for help and the supportive idea of seeking help via therapy or life coach. Wearing a mask does not and will not make the issue disappear.

Taking care of your mind, and your emotional well-being, is pretty much one in the same.

So, creators have to be more proactive.

If you want to have a healthy life, you have to take the appropriate steps.

It’s not always so easy to do, but, when it comes to staying healthy mentally, it’s no mystery what’s required.

Furthermore, make sure your content isn’t the only place where you get to be social. A lot of creators think that, because they stream to thousands of people every week, interacting through chat, that they’re already getting all the socialization they need to stay healthy, but it just doesn’t work like that. As human beings we are designed to be social creatures, so we need face-to-face interaction to feel whole.

However, this can cause even more anxiety for those among us, myself who have trouble finding opportunities to meet new people, or who aren’t as comfortable out in public settings.

The Creative Individuals Movement

The Mental Health Movement

Not only YouTubers, but therapists and life coaches have all joined the movement to help end the mental health stigma. It's not because of the mere fact that it is a lucrative business that pays them ten times what they make in a month but the fact that they are helping those who are in their shoes is a much better payoff and more than money can ever amount to. There are truly no words that can explain the feeling you get when you can help save someone in need.

Popular YouTubers You Can Relate To

The following popular YouTubers who bravely shared their mental health story on the platform to inspire are Alyssa Forever, Vlogtowski, Shane Dawson, Lick My Fashion, MyNaturalSistas, Hazel Goddess, FouseyTUBE, Raven Elyse, and tons more!

(C.S.C.P)

Creative Social Content Pressure explained below.

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About the Creator

Silena Le Beau

She expresses her gift of writing through each piece. She studied writing in college and has been inspiring people for 20 years. She gives back to the community & enriches them with enlightenment. Philanthropist, Empath and Nature lover.

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